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Open Coding, Axial Coding And Selective Coding

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2.3: Open coding, axial coding, selective coding Glaser made reference to open coding and selective coding, while Strauss and Corbin in their re-formulation of grounded theory added ‘axiel coding’ (Dey, 1999). Open coding involves coding the data in every way possible, generating as many categories that might fit, open coding is the primary, or initial coding, while selective coding is a second level coding, selective coding involves delimiting coding to properties that closely relate to the core of the emerging theory (Glaser, 1978 pp56-61). Strauss and Corbin (1990) like Glaser demonstrates the progressive move of coding from general, or abstract to analytic, by describing axiel coding as a set of procedures that make connections between categories by proposing ‘coding paradigm’ which involve paying attention to conditions, contexts, action/interactional strategies, and consequences (Strauss and Corbin 1990, p.96). However the use of coding paradigm in axiel coding mark a key difference and distinction from Glaser’s open and selective coding; coding paradigm allows data to be related systematically in complex ways with combination of density and precision (Strauss and Corbin 1990, p.99) 2.4: Theoretical saturation. One of the criticisms against GT is not knowing the point to halt the cyclic process, or when the researcher may stop data collection and analysis of more data. The process of constant comparison and collection of more data can stop; as Dey (1999) posits:

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